Of Jerusalem I thought,
    ‘Surely you will fear me
    and accept correction!’(A)
Then her place of refuge[a] would not be destroyed,
    nor all my punishments come upon[b] her.
But they were still eager
    to act corruptly(B) in all they did.
Therefore wait(C) for me,”
    declares the Lord,
    “for the day I will stand up to testify.[c]
I have decided to assemble(D) the nations,(E)
    to gather the kingdoms
and to pour out my wrath(F) on them—
    all my fierce anger.(G)
The whole world will be consumed(H)
    by the fire of my jealous anger.

Restoration of Israel’s Remnant

“Then I will purify the lips of the peoples,
    that all of them may call(I) on the name of the Lord(J)
    and serve(K) him shoulder to shoulder.
10 From beyond the rivers of Cush[d](L)
    my worshipers, my scattered people,
    will bring me offerings.(M)
11 On that day you, Jerusalem, will not be put to shame(N)
    for all the wrongs you have done to me,(O)
because I will remove from you
    your arrogant boasters.(P)
Never again will you be haughty
    on my holy hill.(Q)
12 But I will leave within you
    the meek(R) and humble.
The remnant of Israel
    will trust(S) in the name of the Lord.
13 They(T) will do no wrong;(U)
    they will tell no lies.(V)
A deceitful tongue
    will not be found in their mouths.(W)
They will eat and lie down(X)
    and no one will make them afraid.(Y)

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Footnotes

  1. Zephaniah 3:7 Or her sanctuary
  2. Zephaniah 3:7 Or all those I appointed over
  3. Zephaniah 3:8 Septuagint and Syriac; Hebrew will rise up to plunder
  4. Zephaniah 3:10 That is, the upper Nile region

I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings.

Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.

For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent.

10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.

11 In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain.

12 I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord.

13 The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.

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(A)I said, ‘Surely you will fear Me,
You will receive instruction’—
So that her dwelling would not be cut off,
Despite everything for which I punished her.
But [a]they rose early and (B)corrupted all their deeds.

A Faithful Remnant(C)

“Therefore (D)wait for Me,” says the Lord,
“Until the day I rise up [b]for plunder;
My determination is to (E)gather the nations
To My assembly of kingdoms,
To pour on them My indignation,
All My fierce anger;
All the earth (F)shall be devoured
With the fire of My jealousy.

“For then I will restore to the peoples (G)a pure [c]language,
That they all may call on the name of the Lord,
To serve Him with one accord.
10 (H)From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia
My worshipers,
The daughter of My dispersed ones,
Shall bring My offering.
11 In that day you shall not be shamed for any of your deeds
In which you transgress against Me;
For then I will take away from your midst
Those who (I)rejoice in your pride,
And you shall no longer be haughty
In My holy mountain.
12 I will leave in your midst
(J)A meek and humble people,
And they shall trust in the name of the Lord.
13 (K)The remnant of Israel (L)shall do no unrighteousness
(M)And speak no lies,
Nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth;
For (N)they shall feed their flocks and lie down,
And no one shall make them afraid.”

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Footnotes

  1. Zephaniah 3:7 They were eager
  2. Zephaniah 3:8 LXX, Syr. for witness; Tg. for the day of My revelation for judgment; Vg. for the day of My resurrection that is to come
  3. Zephaniah 3:9 Lit. lip